You are WITH me

Psalm 23:4

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Lord,
you are clear
that the life of faith
does not spare us from trouble,
from hardship,
from pain.
Indeed, just the opposite
you speak of your faithful
loving enemies,
praying for those who persecute us.
You model compassion
and solidarity with those who suffer.
You tell us that is how we are to live.
And you die with forgiveness on your lips.

But your promise,
indeed the promise that gave you strength,
is that GOD IS WITH US.
Through it all,
the good, the bad, the ugly,
GOD IS WITH US.

So today I face life --
its joys,
its trials,
its hardships --
confident of your promise:
LORD, YOU ARE WITH ME.

Help me live
into that promise today.
Amen.